Saddam is dead.

Almost all international and local news outlets are reporting the execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein today. CNN reports that he was executed by hanging on December 30th, at around 3:00AM GMT.

“Bringing Saddam Hussein to justice will not end the violence in Iraq, but it is an important milestone on Iraq’s course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain, and defend itself.” – President George W. Bush

I personally doubt that is “an important milestone on Iraq’s course to becoming a democracy.” From a statement released by the Vatican following the execution, “there is a risk that it will feed a spirit of vendetta and sow new violence” – I agree. His death will more likely bring forth newfound violence than peace in an already chaotic Iraq. “The (Brazilian) government does not believe carrying out this sentence will contribute to bringing peace to Iraq,” a Brazilian press release stated.

While Saddam definitely deserves to pay for his cruelty during his regime, nobody deserves to die. No man deserves that kind of punishment. Killing a person means that he will never have a chance to change his ways again. As Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero puts it: “All dictators must answer for their crimes, but I cannot support this kind of punishment, I am against the death penalty.”